Music Calendar

About Davell Crawford

“Davell is a cross between Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, a male Billie Holiday,” – Jazz Foundation of America

Praised by many around the world, the city of New Orleans and its piano tradition has birthed more great and uniquely gifted pianists than any other place in the world. In fact, the piano tradition of The Big Easy has been deemed as “Sainthood.” This honored privilege is held highly by the many locals and music connoisseurs from around the world.

Davell Crawford, an all-around musical sensation, is one of the true wonders of the contemporary Crescent City music scene. Performing professionally since the age of seven, Davell has enjoyed a wild widely acclaimed career as an entertainer. He emerged as a teenage piano terror and began to unfold his incredible talent before the world. He has toured the world performing to sold out audiences and has been a committed advocate for the arts. While touring and recording he’s also taught in schools, given masters classes workshops about artistry, the importance of American Roots music – traditional jazz, gospel, funk and R&B. Hailed as “The Prince of New Orleans,” he has played extensively throughout the states and has toured many countries including Spain, Italy, France, Russia, Finland, Dominica, Brazil, Morocco, and Portugal among others. Cited as one of the few musicians committed to keeping the piano sounds of New Orleans alive, he stands as one of the most versatile and most documented young piano players in America today. He has kept true to the music while adding a little freshness and vitality.

About Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Forty years into their career, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a world famous music machine whose name is synonymous with genre-bending romps and high-octane performances. They have revitalized the brass band in New Orleans and around the world, progressing from local parties, clubs, baseball games and festivals in their early years to touring nearly constantly in the U.S. and in over 30 other countries on five continents. The Dirty Dozen have been featured guests on albums by artists including David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Dr. John, Widespread Panic, Modest Mouse, Dave Matthews Band and the Black Crowes.

In 1977, The Dirty Dozen Social and Pleasure Club in New Orleans began showcasing a traditional Crescent City brass band. It was a joining of two proud, but antiquated, traditions at the time: social and pleasure clubs dated back over a century to a time when black southerners could rarely afford life insurance, and the clubs would provide proper funeral arrangements. Brass bands, early predecessors of jazz as we know it, would often follow the funeral procession playing somber dirges, then once the family of the deceased was out of earshot, burst into jubilant dance tunes as casual onlookers danced in the streets. By the late 1970s, few of either existed. The Dirty Dozen Social and Pleasure Club decided to assemble this group as a house band, and over the course of these early gigs, the seven-member ensemble adopted the venue’s name: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.